Simple Explanation

"Kutner." Foreman called out as he and Thirteen entered his house.

Thirteen laughed as she looked around, "Man/boy heaven. Surprised he ever leaves."

"There's nothing on his calendar. His pager's still here." Foreman knit his brows.

Thirteen looked around then saw the bottom half of a body with a pistol off to the side in his bedroom, "Oh, God."

She ran across the apartment and flipped him over, immediately trying to revive him. Foreman ran over as well, pulling his phone out to call an ambulance.

After attempting to bring him back to life, knowing it wouldn't happen, she gave up. She rolled off to the side and yelled, "He's cold, Foreman!" as Foreman still tried. She looked at herself covered in her friend's blood and started crying.

~0~0~0~0~0~

When they got back to the hospital, Cameron had got the news and needed to help Thirteen. She was in such a trance that she couldn't even get her clothes off to take a shower. Cameron had to physically get her in there with her, hold her up and clean her off.

~0~0~0~0~0~

"He didn't say anything? To any of you? Family problems? Bad relationship? Financial pressures?" House asked after badgering Cameron for a moment, asking her why she was in the office… but all she had to do was gesture to her girlfriend before he'd nodded and moved on.

"His parents were shot right in front of him." Foreman said.

"Parents are ancient history."

"Not to someone who actually cares." Foreman shot back.

"He didn't slit his wrists and… peacefully drift away. He shot himself. He didn't leave a note. That means panic. Which could have been preempted if the idiots who worked alongside him for 80 hours a week had seen this coming."

"You're blaming us?" Thirteen finally spoke.

House though, shook his head, "Just trying to figure it out."

"We would have helped him if he had reached out to us. He didn't." She looked at House.

"We should have picked up on something." Foreman looked at the table.

"This isn't our fault!" Thirteen yelled, "Something like 25% of suicidal people show no outward signs of depression."

"No. 25% of suicidal people have friends who didn't notice anything and don't want to feel guilty." House looked at her.

"Killing himself also kills all other options. Makes Kutner an idiot. So pity, yes. But guilt, no." Taub piped up.

"That's what you wanna tell yourself." Foreman looked at the shorter man.

Cuddy walked in at this moment, "I'm sorry. I've hired a grief counselor whom I'm sure none of you will see and I'm offering time off, which I'm sure none of you will take. But just know it's available."

House got up and limped to his office while the others stayed and discussed how to move forward. Thirteen had suggested going to Kutner's parents and Foreman nodded. Taub told them that he would stay there and work the case, so Thirteen, Foreman and Cameron all got up and walked into House's office as Cuddy left to tell him what they were doing.

As Thirteen put her coat on, Cameron hugged her tight, "You promise you'll be okay?"

She nodded, but didn't look at her. She fingered the bottom of her scrub top, "You can come too…"

"No I can't baby… It's not my place… you know that." She pulled her in for another hug.

"Alright… I'll call you when we get back? Come see you again?"

"Of course."

~0~0~0~0~0~

After finding out that Foreman did actually take Cuddy up on her offer for time off, she text him to make sure he was okay alone then made her way to the ER.

Cameron was signing off on a chart when she saw her standing across the nurse's station. She walked around and the brunette fell into her arms, "Foreman is taking time off…"

"Okay…?"

"I think I need to take time off too… but I can't be alone." She looked sadly into Cameron's eyes.

"You want me to take time off too?" Remy nodded. "Okay… Give me five minutes…"

Cameron walked to her office, grabbed her stuff, then took Remy's hand and they walked out of the ER and passed the clinic to Cuddy's office. The dean was on the phone with someone and looked up.

Cameron simply raised their interlocked fingers and with her free hand waved at her, telling her they were leaving for a bit. Cuddy only nodded with sad eyes as they turned and made their way from the hospital.

~0~0~0~0~0~

At Kutner's funeral, Remy wouldn't let Allison hold her hand. She knew that if she did, she would break again… she didn't want to break again. She'd been crying and getting into her own head too much lately.

As she got up to be the only female pallbearer, she looked to Allison, who so obviously just wanted to make sure she was alright and that made her feel worse. She shook her head at herself and once they had made their way outside to lay him to rest, she walked back over to the blonde.

She let the backs of her fingers brush the backs of Allison's a moment before she crossed her arms. Allison place her hands on the brunette's hips and let Remy lean into her. Eventually, Remy uncrossed her arms and covered Allison's hands with her own, lacing their fingers together. Eventually, she let herself break again because she realized that she was going to be okay… she realized that she was safe in the blonde's arms.